The Texans grab two hometown kids in a new mock draft
With just one more game remaining until the official end of the 2023 NFL season, most teams are fully in offseason mode. That includes the Houston Texans, whose fans are now looking toward free agency, and the 2024 NFL Draft. To prepare all 32 fan bases for the upcoming draft, I published my first two-round […]
With just one more game remaining until the official end of the 2023 NFL season, most teams are fully in offseason mode.
That includes the Houston Texans, whose fans are now looking toward free agency, and the 2024 NFL Draft.
To prepare all 32 fan bases for the upcoming draft, I published my first two-round mock draft of the cycle, in which the Texans landed two prospects who both grew up in Texas.
Round 1, Pick 23: T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas
"The Texans have been looking for an anchor on the interior of their defense ever since they lost DJ Reader to the Bengals via free agency. And after seeing T'Vondre Sweat out of Texas dominate the Senior Bowl, I think he could be a great fit. Sweat's brute strength made him difficult to block all week long. His ability to bull rush is second to none in this class and will likely be something his NFL team asks him to do at a significantly higher rate than he did in college."
I'm not sure if there is a single player that increased his draft stock more at this year's Senior Bowl than Texas DT T'Vondre Sweat. Sweat's athleticism and brute strength are going to make an NFL team very happy. And the Texans need to add talent on the interior of their defense, so this seems like a perfect fit to me.
Round 2, Pick 59: Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
"If Houston bypasses WR in the first round, many will expect them to add one on day two of the draft. And Washington's Ja'Lynn Polk may not seem like a sexy option, but I really like how he'd complement Nico Collins and Tank Dell in the passing game. Polk would be able to line up opposite Collins on the outside and also has experience playing in the slot, to allow him and Dell to swap places at times via the play call."
After going DT in round 1, I had the Texans grab C.J. Stroud, a WR. The duo of Nico Collins and Tank Dell is a great foundation, but finding that third starter to complement those two players should be a priority for the Texans this offseason. And one of my favorite fits for them is Washington WR Ja'Lynn Polk. Polk grew up in Texas, so he will know the area well, but his solid size and speed allow him to play both the outside and the slot. This would allow him and Dell to be interchangeable and open more possibilities for their offense.
Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud wins Offensive Rookie of the Year Award at NFL Honors
The Texans found their quarterback of the future.
